HB 45 — Maryland
Labor and Employment - Mandatory Meetings on Religious or Political Matters - Employee Attendance and Participation (Maryland Worker Freedom Act)
Prohibiting employers and their agents, representatives, and designees from taking certain actions against an employee or applicant for employment because the employee or applicant takes certain actions regarding employer-sponsored meetings during which the employer communicates the opinion of the employer regarding religious matters or political matters; authorizing an employee to file a certain complaint with the Commissioner of Labor and Industry; etc.
Latest action: Referred Rules · Apr 7, 2026
Synopsis written by the legislature's own staff, as published on the official bill page. Status label is derived from the recorded actions. The full text below is the record.
Committees: Government, Labor, and Elections (House of Delegates); Rules (Senate)
Updated Apr 8, 2026
Timeline
Pre-filed
Jul 11, 2025 · House of Delegates
First Reading Government, Labor, and Elections
Jan 14, 2026 · House of Delegates
Hearing 2/19 at 1:00 p.m.
Feb 9, 2026 · House of Delegates
Favorable Report by Government, Labor, and Elections
Apr 2, 2026 · House of Delegates
Favorable Adopted
Apr 2, 2026 · House of Delegates
Motion Special Order until 04/03 (Delegate Buckel) Adopted
Apr 2, 2026 · House of Delegates
Floor Amendment {
Apr 3, 2026 · House of Delegates
Floor Amendment {
Apr 3, 2026 · House of Delegates
Floor Amendment {
Apr 3, 2026 · House of Delegates
Floor Amendment {
Apr 3, 2026 · House of Delegates
Floor Amendment {
Apr 3, 2026 · House of Delegates
Floor Amendment {
Apr 3, 2026 · House of Delegates
Floor Amendment {
Apr 3, 2026 · House of Delegates
Second Reading Passed
Apr 3, 2026 · House of Delegates
Third Reading Passed
Apr 6, 2026 · House of Delegates
Referred Rules
Apr 7, 2026 · Senate
Sponsored by Joe Vogel
House of Delegates vote — 33–85
FLA Del. Buckel /573422/1 · Mar 18, 2026 · result: fail
33 yea · 85 nay · 23 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
House of Delegates vote — 29–88
FLA Del. Miller /343827/1 · Mar 18, 2026 · result: fail
29 yea · 88 nay · 24 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
House of Delegates vote — 23–90
FLA Del. Miller /663227/1 · Mar 18, 2026 · result: fail
23 yea · 90 nay · 28 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
House of Delegates vote — 28–87
FLA Del. Miller /783920/1 · Mar 18, 2026 · result: fail
28 yea · 87 nay · 26 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
House of Delegates vote — 35–89
FLA Del. Buckel /673026/1 · Mar 18, 2026 · result: fail
35 yea · 89 nay · 17 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
House of Delegates vote — 28–88
FLA Del. Miller /323629/1 · Mar 18, 2026 · result: fail
28 yea · 88 nay · 25 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
House of Delegates vote — 26–83
FLA Del. Miller /823324/1 · Mar 18, 2026 · result: fail
26 yea · 83 nay · 32 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
House of Delegates vote — 97–35
On Third Reading · Mar 19, 2026 · result: pass
97 yea · 35 nay · 9 absent, excused, abstain or not voting
Official records. Maryland legislators, bills and roll-call votes from the Maryland General Assembly, imported through Open States on Oct 27, 2026 (partial import — not yet the full session). Accuracy review against the official site is still under way. Campaign-finance records for Maryland are not imported yet.